Antennas and methods for using the same are described. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises an aperture having a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) radiating antenna elements, the plurality of RF radiating antenna elements being grouped into three or more sets of RF radiating antenna elements, with each set being separately controlled to generate a beam at a frequency band in a first mode.

A method and apparatus for using Euclidean modulation in an antenna are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for controlling an antenna comprises mapping a desired modulation to achievable modulation states, mapping modulation values associated with the achievable modulation states to one or more control parameters, and controlling radio frequency (RF) radiating antenna elements using the one or more control parameters to perform beam forming.

The present invention relates to a system (100) for spatially detecting any foreign bodies within a product (135) on the basis of dielectric characteristics of said product (135), said system (100) comprising: conveyor means (150) adapted to convey said product (135) through a scanning region (S) along a crossing direction (L), in a predefined crossing time interval (T) for crossing said scanning region (S); a plurality of antennae (200) arranged transversally to said crossing direction (L), wherein each antenna (210) of said plurality of antennae (200) is adapted to operate in the microwave range, and wherein each antenna (210) is adapted to transmit an electromagnetic scanning signal adapted to propagate in said scanning region (S), so as to diffuse in said product (135); processing means (250) adapted to generate a first set of values indicative of the dielectric characteristics of said product (135) based on at least one diffused electromagnetic signal received by at least one antenna (210) of said plurality of antennae (200), said processing means (250) being adapted to compare said first set of values with a second set of values indicative of the dielectric characteristics of said product (135) in the absence of any foreign bodies, wherein each antenna (210) of said plurality of antennae (200) is adapted to transmit said electromagnetic scanning signal at least once in said crossing time interval (T), according to a predefined transmission frequency.

The present invention relates to a system (100) for spatially detecting any foreign bodies within a product (135) on the basis of dielectric characteristics of said product (135), said system (100) comprising: conveyor means (150) adapted to convey said product (135) through a scanning region (S) along a crossing direction (L), in a predefined crossing time interval (T) for crossing said scanning region (S); a plurality of antennae (200) arranged transversally to said crossing direction (L), wherein each antenna (210) of said plurality of antennae (200) is adapted to operate in the microwave range, and wherein each antenna (210) is adapted to transmit an electromagnetic scanning signal adapted to propagate in said scanning region (S), so as to diffuse in said product (135); processing means (250) adapted to generate a first set of values indicative of the dielectric characteristics of said product (135) based on at least one diffused electromagnetic signal received by at least one antenna (210) of said plurality of antennae (200), said processing means (250) being adapted to compare said first set of values with a second set of values indicative of the dielectric characteristics of said product (135) in the absence of any foreign bodies, wherein each antenna (210) of said plurality of antennae (200) is adapted to transmit said electromagnetic scanning signal at least once in said crossing time interval (T), according to a predefined transmission frequency.

An RF device includes a first antenna set made up of a first antenna and a second antenna, the first and second antennas being planar in shape and both lying in a common first plane, the first antenna being arranged to operate in a first frequency band and the second antenna being arranged to operate in a second frequency band; and a first isolator, the first isolator being planar in shape and lying in the first plane between the first and second antennas, the first isolator having at least one branch that is electrically conductive, the first isolator being electrically floating, the first isolator being arranged to reduce first coupling by electromagnetic radiation between the first and second antennas in the first frequency band and/or in the second frequency band.

An RF device includes a first antenna set made up of a first antenna and a second antenna, the first and second antennas being planar in shape and both lying in a common first plane, the first antenna being arranged to operate in a first frequency band and the second antenna being arranged to operate in a second frequency band; and a first isolator, the first isolator being planar in shape and lying in the first plane between the first and second antennas, the first isolator having at least one branch that is electrically conductive, the first isolator being electrically floating, the first isolator being arranged to reduce first coupling by electromagnetic radiation between the first and second antennas in the first frequency band and/or in the second frequency band.

A node including a non-planar reflective surface is disclosed. The node may receive, from a base station, an indication of a surface configuration of at least one convex reflective surface of the node. The indication may indicate that the surface configuration corresponds to at least one of a broadcast configuration or a UE-specific configuration. The node may configure, upon receiving the indication of the surface configuration, the at least one convex reflective surface based on the surface configuration. The surface configuration may correspond to at least one of the broadcast configuration or the UE-specific configuration. The node may forward communication received from, or forward communication to, the base station based on the surface configuration of the at least one convex reflective surface.

A node including a non-planar reflective surface is disclosed. The node may receive, from a base station, an indication of a surface configuration of at least one convex reflective surface of the node. The indication may indicate that the surface configuration corresponds to at least one of a broadcast configuration or a UE-specific configuration. The node may configure, upon receiving the indication of the surface configuration, the at least one convex reflective surface based on the surface configuration. The surface configuration may correspond to at least one of the broadcast configuration or the UE-specific configuration. The node may forward communication received from, or forward communication to, the base station based on the surface configuration of the at least one convex reflective surface.

Various embodiments are described that relate to an antenna. In one embodiment, the antenna can be a low profile, multi-band (e.g., dual band), emulated GPS constellation antenna. In one embodiment, the antenna can form a cube with two open sides and four circuit board sides. The four circuit boards can include a first hardware portion that allows functioning in a higher frequency band and a second hardware portion that allows functioning in a lower frequency band.

Disclosed is a phase shifter arrangement for an antenna, such as a cellular antenna, that has a simplified drive mechanism. The phase shifter arrangement has two phase shifters, each with two wiper arms that are coupled at one end to a single drive shaft. Each of the wiper arms have a pivot access that may be located at or near its center such that as the drive shaft translates, it mechanically engages both wiper arms, causing them to rotate around their respective pivot axes. Certain antenna arrangements have several array faces. For example, the antenna may have three array faces, each spaced at 120 degrees of azimuth. The drive shafts for each of these array faces may operate independently to function as a multisector antenna, or they may be driven in unison to function as an omnidirectional antenna.